10) Rheumatology (Part 2) Flashcards
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
- Inflammation of synovial linings of bursae and joints especially at neck, shoulders and hips
- Elderly women with symmetric pain in neck, shoulder, pelvis is worse in morning
- PE limited active and passive ROM
Polymyalgia Rheumatica diagnostics
- Labs Markedly Elevated ESR > 40, anemia
- Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis and Temporal Arteritis
Polymyalgia Rheumatica Tx
- Treatment with steroids and NSAIDs
- Rapid response to steroids is usually noted
Giant Cell Arteritis/Temporal Arteritis symptoms
- Headache
- Jaw claudication
- Pain and stiffness of shoulder and pelvis in 50%
Giant Cell Arteritis/Temporal Arteritis physical exam/lab findings
- Check for temporal artery tenderness and bruit
- ESR and CRP rate high, normochromic normocytic anemia
Giant cell arteritis Dx
- Diagnosis by temporal biopsy
Giant cell arteritis Tx
- Glucocorticoids (before biopsy if strongly suspected)
- IV if vision loss at diagnosis
Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s)
- Mostly in men secondary to chlamydia urethritis or after GI infection by Shigella, Salmonella, Yersinia, Campylobacter
- Appears 1-4 weeks after infection
Reactive arthritis symptoms
- Conjunctivitis
- Urinary symptoms possibly with shallow painless ulcers of glans penis
- Asymmetric arthritis of LE
- Dactylitis
- Low back pain
Reactive arthritis labs
- Elevated ESR
- Leukocytosis
- Synovial fluid has WBCs, neutrophils
Reactive arthritis x-ray may show
- Erosions
- Periosteal changes at tuberosities, Achilles tendon insertion
- Sacroiliitis
Reactive arthritis Dx
- Clinical by history
Reactive arthritis Tx
- NSAIDs
- Sulfasalazine
- Antibiotics only if there are signs of infection
Rheumatoid arthritis
- Most common inflammatory arthritis, Women 25-55
Rheumatoid arthritis joint findings
- Synovium infiltrated by inflammatory cells destroying cartilage
- Polyarticular – early symmetric small joints of hands and feet; also knees shoulders, elbows ankles and neck
Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms
- Morning stiffness
- Fatigue
- Low grade fever
Rheumatoid arthritis physical exam findings
- Swelling and thickening of MCP and PIP joints
- Subcutaneous nodules,
- Limited ROM and ulnar deviation at MCP is a late finding
RA diagnosis ACR criteria
- Synovitis of at least one joint and scoring on others
- Arthritis of large and small joints,
- Symptoms over 6 weeks
RA labs
- Elevated Sed rate
- 75% have positive RF
- Another serological marker is anti-citrullinatedpeptide/proteinantibody
RA Tx
- Managed by a rheumatologist
- Goal is remission of inflammation
- Patient education helps management
- DMARDs are now started early, NSAIDs act faster (Methotrexate is the initial treatment given with folate)
- Disease severity fluctuates with “flares” so managed actively “tight control”
- Interarticular steroids, PT, braces, TJR